Resolve to get fit at Fort Hood in 2014

Free Yoga Class on Fort Hood

Brittni Carpenter, right, and her husband, Zachary Carpenter, left, stretch during a free yoga class Friday evening at the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Center on Fort Hood. Spin and zumba are also offered for free on post.

Abrams Physical Fitness Center and Ironhorse Physical Fitness Center are currently closed. Abrams is expected to reopen in fall 2014 following renovations. Ironhorse will reopen in the future as a functional fitness center.

Fort Hood offers a variety of options to kick physical fitness levels into high gear in 2014.

Eight gyms are available to choose from, with several featuring free classes such as Zumba and spin. No registration is necessary. Participants need only to show up a few minutes before the scheduled start time to secure space.

SPIN

Spin fitness is a high-impact cycling course offered at two Fort Hood centers.

“Experience a full ride of hills, sprints and endurance intervals with energizing music and motivational instruction,” stated the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation website. “Spinning will enhance your speed, strength and stamina, improve your overall physical health and increase your caloric burn.”

One-hour classes take place at noon Monday through Friday and at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday at Grey Wolf Physical Fitness Center; and at 8:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Burba Physical Fitness Center.

ZUMBA

Zumba is an aerobic dance class that incorporates Latin and international music. The dance classes are designed for all skill levels.

“It is a mixture of body sculpting movements with easy to follow dance steps,” stated the MWR website. “Zumba utilizes the principles of fitness interval training and resistance training to maximize caloric output, fat burning and total body toning.”

Applied Functional Fitness Center offers yoga for every level. Hour-long yoga courses are held at 11:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The yoga instructor can help with movements to ensure an inclusive course that can be completed by any interested participants.

“She’ll be more than happy to work with you for your needs,” said facility staff member Brett Hough.

“It is real-life fitness for the whole body,” said Monty Campbell, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation spokesperson.

“(It) trains muscles to work together and prepare them for daily tasks by simulating common movements someone might do at home, at work in sport or on the battlefield,” stated the MWR website. At the same time, it emphasizes core stability, making it a well-rounded workout.

The Fort Hood facilities’ equipment includes kettle bells, rowers, ropes, sandbags and glute-ham developers, enabling a full range of total body workouts.

Fitness classes are also available for a fee Monday through Thursday at Fort Hood Skating and Aerobics Center. These courses include cardio kickboxing, hip-hop funk, belly dancing, boot camps and more.

After 20 hours of travel, by plane and bus, I finally made it to Camp Casey, South Korea with the remainder of Fort Hood’s 1st Brigade Combat Team soldiers. For the next several days, I will be following the mission and daily lives of Ironhorse troopers as they begin a nine-month rotation in the land of the morning calm.